Embossing tool adjustable for different width strips

ABSTRACT

A TOOL FOR EMBOSSING PREDETERMINED MAKINGS ON DEFORMABLE STRIP MATERIAL HAVING A STRIP GUIDE ELEMENT MANUALLY MOVABLE TO DIFFERENT POSITIONS WITHIN A CONTINUOUS PASSAGEWAY EXTENDING THROUGH AN EMBOSSING STATION IN THE TOOL TO GUIDE STRIP MATERIALS OF DIFFERENT WIDTHS, CORRESPONDING TO THE DIFFERENT POSITIONS OF STRIP GUIDE ELEMENT THROUGH THE ENBOSSING. THE CONTINUOUS PASSAGEWAY TRAVERS STRIP MATERIALS THEREIN. THE CONTINUOUS PASSAGEWAY TRAVERSES THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE TOOL AND ENTRANCE CHANNEL FOR EACH DIFFERENT WIDTH STRIP MATERIAL EXTENDS THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE TOOL A STRIP FEEDER ASSEMBLY WHICH ADVANCES THE STRIP MATERIAL ALONG THE CONTINUOUS PASSAGEWAY AND THROUGH THE EMBOSSING STATION.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Fred Alper Beverly Hills, Calif. {21] Appl. No, 743,723 [22] Filed July 10,1968 {45] Patented June 28, 1971 {73] Assignee Com-Tech, Incorporated Beverly Hills, Calif.

(54] EMBOSSING TOOL ADJUSTABLE FOR DIFFERENT WIDTH STRIPS I Claim, 9 Drawing Figs.

[52] [1.5. CI 197/6.7 [51] Int. Cl B41j 1/30 [50] Field of Search 197/67 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,133,495 5/1964 DeMan l97/6.7X 3,155,215 11/1964 Avery 197/6.7 3,263,790 8/1966 Bremer et a1 197/6.7 3,263,791 8/1966 Pedersen et al. 197/67 3,272,301 9/1966 Craig 197/67 3,277,992 10/1966 Bremer... 197/67 Primer Examiner- Edgar S. Burr Attorney-Pennie, Edmonds, Morton, Taylor and Adams ABSTRACT: A tool for embossing predetermined markings on deformable strip material having a strip guide element manually movable to .different positions within a continuous passageway extending through an embossing station in the tool to guide strip materials of different widths, corresponding to the different positions of the strip guide element, through the embossing station and position such different strip materials therein. The continuous passageway traverses the longitudinal axis of the tool and an entrance channel for each different width strip material extends through the side of the tool to a strip feeder assembly which advances the strip material along the continuous passageway and through the embossing station.

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ATTORNEYS EMBOSSING TOOL ADJUSTABLE FOR DIFFERENT WIDTH STRIPS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a tool for embossing predetermined markings on deformable strip material and more specifically to a tool for embossing predetermined markings on deformable strip materials of different widths.

2. Description of the Prior Art With the development of various plastic strip materials which when embossed undergo a color change in the embossed surface thereby providing a sharp contrast between the embossed surface andthe background area of the strip material, a number of hand operable tools for embossing such strip materials have been developed. In general, these tools utilize a pivotable handle arrangemem whereby upon actuation of the handles embossment is accomplished by forcing a pair of complimentary dies into a mated relationship while the strip material is positioned therebetween. Upon the release of the handle, the dies are separated and the strip material is advanced through the embossing station by a friction roller disposed rearwardly of the embossing station and activated by a pawl and ratchet assembly. The distance the strip material is advanced by the friction roller defines the spacing between the markings embossed on the strip material.

These tools are designed to guide strip material of a given width through the embossing station. For this given width, the strip material is accurately positioned within the embossing station. However, when strip material having a width less than the given width is fed into the embossing tool there is no assurance that the markings embossed on the strip material will be centrally placed thereon, since the longitudinal centerline of the strip material may be displaced with respect to the center point of the embossing station. This result has limited the tools to embossing strip materials varying by no more than one-eighth inch in width.

The need for an embossing toolcapable of accurately guiding and positioning strip materials of different widths through the tool and in the embossing station is therefore apparent.

Furthermore, these tools carry a magazine for supplying strip material to the tool from a roll. In most of the tools, the magazine is disposed at the rear portion of the tool and thereby requires feeding the strip material through a channel extending the entire length of the handle before it reaches the friction roller. In other tools, the magazine is disposed beneath the embossing station and must be fed upwardly through a channel extending the entire height of the tool before it reaches the friction roller.

In addition to the awkward and cumbersome threading operation to feed the strip material through these extended channels and up to the friction roller, the strip material may become jammed in those channels when the strip material is retracted from the tool, since the strip material is generally of a flexible nature.

Hence the need'for an embossing tool which eliminates an extended channel up to the friction roller is also apparent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A tool for embossing predetermined markings on deformable strip material comprises a body extending longitudinally rearwardly to form a first handle. The body defines an embossing station and continuous passageway extending through the embossing station to provide a path for the strip material through the embossing station.

First and second complimentary die members having male and female dies, respectively, cooperatively disposed about the peripheries of the die member are rotatably mounted on the body to bring selected pairs of dies to the embossing statron.

A second handle is pivotally connected to the body and forms an anvil disposed to actuate the pair of dies disposed at the embossing station when the first and second handles are brought together.

A strip feeder assembly is supported by the body and has a friction roller in direct contact with said strip material and rotatable about an axis generally perpendicular to the path of the strip material to advance the strip material through the embossing station when the first and second handles move apart.

A strip guide element is disposed within the continuous passageway and is manually movable to different positions therein along an axis generally perpendicular to the path of the strip material. The strip guide element has a plane surface and a wall member extending upwardly from the plane surface. The wall member extends generally parallel to the path of the strip material for guiding strip materials of different widths, corresponding to the different positions of the strip guide element, through the embossing station and positioning such different strip materials accurately therein.

By utilizing a strip guide element, movable to different positions within the continuous passageway, the embossing tool is capable of accurately positioning strip materials of different widths within the embossing station thereby assuring that the markings embossed on the strip material will be centrally placed thereon even when strip materials varying by more than one-eight inch in width are fed into the too].

Also, the continuous passageway traverses the longitudinal axis of the tool. At least one entrance channel is positioned in the side of the body and extends from the exterior 6f the body to the passageway. The friction roller of the strip feeder assembly is disposed at the entrance channel. This arrangement eliminates an extended channel up to the friction roller, since strip material is fed through the side of the tool whereupon it immediately engages the strip feeder assembly. Hence, awkward and cumbersome threading operations are completely eliminated and any possibility of the strip material jamming within the entrance channel is also eliminated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the embossing tool partially broken away;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the longitudinal axis of the embossing tool;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the embossing tool;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view partially broken away;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the strip guide element of the embossing tool;

FIG. 6 is a plan view partially broken away;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view having sections broken away;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the embossing tool taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view partially broken away.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, the embossing tool 10 has a body 12, extending longitudinally rearwardly to form a first handle 14. This handle 14 is shaped to enable a person to hold and activate the tool easily with one hand. Also the body 12 has a front cover 16 which extends over the top and down the front side of the body 12 and is affixed thereto.

The body supports a means for embossing the strip material in the form of first and second complimentary die members 24, 26 manually rotatable about a pin 28. The die members 24, 26 have male and female dies, respectively, cooperatively disposed about the periphery of the die members for forming the markings to be embossed on the strip material. The second die member 26 is spoked and each spoke 25 carries one die of a given die pair on the die members 24, 26.

For embossing strip materials having different widths, die members corresponding to such different widths are utilized in this tool.

Specifically, die members for embossing either strip material of Vz-inch width or ifs-inch width are mounted on the body 12 by a pin 28 which extends through the die members and has a threaded lower portion 27. The threaded lower portion 27 is screwed into a bore 29 having complimentary threads.

Die members for embossing strip material of V4-inch width are mounted on the body in a similar fashion; however, for such die members the pin 28 is screwed into a second bore 31 which is disposed forwardly of the first bore 29.

By utilizing die members corresponding to the width of the strip material to be embossed, the size of the markings embossed on the strip material can be selected to correspond to the width of the strip material.

Moreover, for strip materials of zz-inch width or %-inch width, the positioning of the strip material within the tool is partially accomplished by a tab 110 extending upwardly from the second die member 26. An annular groove 33 is formed in the first die member 24, to accept the tab 110 when the die pair is forced into a mated relationship and thereby preventing the tab 110 from interfering with the embossment. By utilizing die members corresponding to the width of the strip material, the tab 110 may be suitably disposed to accomplish the desired positioning for each width. This shall be more fully explained in connection with subsequent drawings.

The embossing means is activated by a second handle 30 having its forwardmost portion 32 pivotally connected to the body 12 about an axis 34 disposed forwardly of the die members 24, 26 and having its rearmost portion 36 disposed beneath the first handle 14. The second handle 30 is biased from the first handle 14 by a coil spring 31 connecting the first and second handles.

In order to pivotally connect the second handle 30 to the body 12 about axis 34 without the use of additional parts such as a pin, the body 12 is provided with two forwardly extending arms 38 as best illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 6. The arms 38 are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the width of the forwardmost portion 32 of the handle 30 allowing that portion 32 of the handle 30 to fit therebetween. The forward end of each arm 38 has an upwardly extending portion 39 and a forwardly extending portion 41. An inwardly extending cavity is disposed into the front side of the upwardly extending portion 39 of the arm 38 to define a cylindrical surface 40. The handle 30 is provided with two cylindrical stub shafts 42 disposed in the forwardmost portion 32 of the handle 30. Each stub shaft 42 extends outward from one side of the handle 30 and has the rear half of its surface positioned within corresponding cylindrical surfaces 40. The front cover 16 is provided with rearwardly extending blocks 44 aligned with the arms 38 extending from the housing 12. These blocks 44 have an inwardly extending cavity defining a cylindrical surface 46 disposed in the rear end of the block 44. The cylindrical surface 46 of the block 44 fits over the forward half of the cylindrical tabs 42 on the handle 30 and rests upon the forwardly extending portion 41 of the arm 38 thereby fixing the pivot axis 34 of the handle 30.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the embossment of the strip material is accomplished at an embossing station 48 located between one die pair 50. The die pair is actuated by an anvil 54 formed by the second handle 30. When the first l4 and second 30 handles are brought together, the anvil 54 rises upwards towards the embossing station 48, engages one spoke 25 of the second die member 26 and lifts the spoke 25 upward toward the first die member 24 thereby forcing the die pair 50 into a mated relationship and accomplishing the embossment upon the strip material positioned at the embossing station 48.

As we have already stated die pair 50 is only one of a series of die pairs carried by the die members 24, 26. As seen in FIG 3, the markings 56 which will be embossed onto the strip material by a given die pair is indicated on the upper surface of the first die member 24. To select the marking to be embossed, the die members are manually rotated until the desired marking 56 is seen in a viewing window 58 cut into the top portion of the front cover 16 and disposed above the cmbossing station 48. In order to insure the precise positioning of each die pair at the embossing station a detent spring (not shown) may be carried by the housing 12 and resiliently engage one of a series of notches 60, identically spaced and positioned around the outer rim of the first die member 24. This detent spring will also prevent the die members from accidentally rotating after the desired die pair is positioned.

As best illustrated by FIGS. 2 and 7, the strip material 62 is carried by the tool 10 in a dispensing magazine 66 positioned within a cavity 64 in the lower portion of the tool 10. Dispensing magazines which carry strip material one-half inch wide have a width equal to the distance between the opposite walls 68 of the cavity 64. As a result, when such magazine is inserted into the cavity it is wedged between the opposite walls and as such is held therebetween. Dispensing magazines which carry strip material three-eighths inch or one-fourth inch wide have a width less than the distance between the opposite walls 68 of the cavity 64, and hence for such magazines a means to retain the magazine within the cavity must be provided. As seen in FIG. 7, a spring element 70 mounted on the body 12 extends through a slot 72 in the side of the magazine 66 into the interior of the magazine. It must be noted, however, that in FIG. 7 the spring element 70 is shown in combination with a magazine for one-half inch wide strip material and that this is done solely for purposes of illustration. The spring element 70 is only needed with a magazine for three-eighths inch or onefourth inch wide strip material.

The spring element 70 shown in FIG. 7 has certain disadvantages, the greatest of which is the difficulty of removing and inserting the magazine from and onto the spring element. To eliminate this problem a magazine retaining spring element 73 (FIG. 9) is utilized and will be described hereafter in connection with FIG. 9.

Referring more specifically to FIG. 7, the embossing tool 10 has a continuous passageway traversing the longitudinal axis of the tool 10. Three entrance channels 82, 84, 86 are disposed in the side of the tool 10 and extend from the exterior of the tool to the passageway 80. These channels 82, 84, 86 are formed by cutting slots into the side of the tool 10. Each channel is keyed to accept a strip material of a different width. Specifically, entrance channel 82 has a width slightly larger than one-fourth inch and will therefore accept strip material having a width of one-fourth inch; entrance channel 84 has a width slightly larger than three-eighth inch and will therefore accept strip material having a width of three-eighth inch; entrance channel 86 has a width slightly larger than one-half inch and will therefore accept strip material having a width of one-half inch.

By providing three separate entrance channels 82, 84, 86, corresponding to strip materials of different widths, a precise path to the friction roller 88 is assured whereby upon leaving the friction roller 88, the strip material is perfectly aligned for entrance into the strip guide element 90.

As seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the strip guide element 90 is disposed within the continuous passageway 80 between the friction roller 88 and the embossing station 48 and rests on the body 12. An arm 92 forming an integral part of the strip guide element extends forwardly through an opening in the front cover 16 (see FIGS. 2 and 4). By pushing or pulling the arm 92, the strip guide element 90 can be moved manually to different positions within the passageway 80 along an axis generally perpendicular to the path of the strip material.

In order to fix the positions of the strip guide element 90 within the passageway 80, three notches 96, 98, are cut into the bottom of the arm 92. A raised surface 102 is positioned on the front cover 16 immediately beneath the arm 92 and selectively engages one of the three notches to define first, second and third positions of the strip guide element, respectively.

The strip guide element 90 has a plane surface 102 and a wall member 104 extending upwardly from the plane surface 102 and extending generally parallel to the path of the strip material. As specifically illustrated by FIG. 6, when the strip guide element 90 is disposed in its third position, the wall member 104 guides strip material of fa-inch width 105 through the embossing station 48 and positions the strip material therein.

A tab 110 positioned on the spoke 25 of the second die member 26 at the embossing station and extending upwardly from the second die member 26 guides the strip material 105 on its rear side. The distance between the tab 110 and the wall member 104, measured along a line normal to the path of the strip material is equivalent to the width of the strip material 105 to allow free passage of the strip material therebetween and at the same time prevent lateral movement of the strip material 105 to insure precise positioning of the strip material at the embossing station.

In order to guide and position strip material of %-inch width, the strip guide element is placed in its second position and die members corresponding to the -inch width strip material are mounted on the tool. In this arrangement the distance between the tab 110 and the wall member 104 measured along a line perpendicular to the path of the strip material is equivalent to the three-eighths inch wide strip material to allow free passage of that strip material therebetween and at the same time prevent lateral movement of the strip material to insure precise positioning of the strip material at the embossing station.

In order to guide strip material of A-inch width, the strip guide element has a second wall member 106 spaced apart and parallel to wall member 104. The second wall member 106 extends upwardly from a second plane surface 108 coplanar with plane surface 102 and extending between wall member 104 and second wall member 106. When the strip guide element is placed in its first position, the wall members 104 and 106 are aligned with respect to the embossing station to guide one-fourth inch wide strip material between the wall members 104 and 106 to the embossing station. The distance between wall members 104 and 106, measured along a line normal to the path of the strip material, is equivalent to the one-fourth inch wide strip material to allow free passage of that strip material therebetween and at the same time prevent lateral movement of the strip material to insure precise positioning of the strip material at the embossing station.

By utilizing a strip guide element which may be disposed in various positions, this embossing tool positions strip materials of widths varying from one-fourth inch to one-half inch accurately within the embossing station.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, the friction roller 88 which was mentioned above is part of a strip feeder assembly 112 adapted to advance the strip material through the embossing tool in predetermined units of distance. A pressure roller 113 insures that the strip material will be frictionally advanced by the friction roller 88.

Specifically, the strip feeder assembly 112 has a manual advance knob 114, a friction roller 88, a first ratchet wheel 116 and a second ratchet wheel 118, all mounted on a common shaft 120 and simultaneously rotatable with that shaft 120.

The assembly 112 is disposed at the entrance channels 82, 84, 86 of the tool 10 between those entrance channels and the strip guide element 90. The shaft 120 extends into a cavity 122 in the body 12 while the manual advance knob 114 extends out through the front cover 16 of the tool. Therefore, the entire assembly 112 may be rotated by simply turning the manual advance knob 114.

A detent spring 124 is affixed to the body 12 by two studs 125 extending out from the body 12. FIG. 8 shows the detent spring 124 resiliently engaging the teeth of the first ratchet wheel 116. The detent spring 124 is sufficiently resilient to allow rotation of the strip feeder assembly in either sense of rotation. Therefore the friction roller 88 will advance or retract the strip material only in units of distance corresponding to the pitch ofthe first ratchet wheel 116.

IN addition, a pawl 128 is provided to engage the first ratchet wheel 116 and rotate that wheel 116 in a clockwise direction upon activation of the first and second handles 14 and 30 thereby advancing the strip material. Specifically, a pivot bar 130, disposed beneath the second handle 30, extends beyond each side of the handle 30 and is pivotally connected to the body 12 at 132. The pawl 128 is pivotally connected to the pivot bar 130 at 134 and extends upwardly toward the strip feeder assembly 112.

A spring element 136 mounted on the pivot bar 130 engages the pawl to urge the pawl over a cam member 135 and toward the first ratchet wheel 116. The second handle 30 rests on top of the pivot bar 130 to prevent the bar 130 from moving upwards which in turn prevents the pawl 128 from riding over the cam 135 and engaging the ratchet wheel 116.

When the first and second handles 14, 30 are brought together, the pivot bar 130 is free to rise and hence the spring element 136 forces the pawl 128 over the cam 134 while lifting the pivot bar, and thus forces the pawl into engagement with the teeth of the first ratchet wheel 116. When the handle is released it forces the pivot bar 130 down causing the pawl 128 to rotate the ratchet wheel and then disengage therefrom and return to its rest state as shown in FIG. 7.

This arrangement insures that a fresh portion of strip material will be positioned in the embossing station after each embossment. And furthermore, since, when the handle is at rest, the pawl 128 is disengaged, the strip material may be easily advanced and retracted manually.

As seen in FIG. 8, the second ratchet wheel 118 is disposed within a recess 138 in the body 12. This second ratchet wheel 118 may be substituted for the first ratchet wheel 116 by simply sliding the strip feeder assembly 112 along its longitudinal axis toward the front cover 16. In so doing, the detent spring 124 engages the second ratchet wheel 118. Moreover, the pawl 128 will now engage the second ratchet wheel 118 upon actuation of the handles 14,30.

The second ratchet wheel 118 has a pitch differing from the first ratchet wheel 116 and thereby provides a different spacing between the characters embossed on the strip material from the first ratchet wheel 116.

In order to enable the detent spring 124 to pass freely from the first to the second ratchet wheel and back again, the portion of the detent spring engaging the ratchet wheel is a generally spherical surface 140. This configuration enables the detent spring to ride over the adjacent set of teeth.

This second ratchet wheel 118 is designed to provide a closer spacing of the characters embossed on the strip material and is generally utilized when embossing tape having a A- inch width.

Referring back to FIG. 7, the embossing tool 10 is provided with a cutter assembly 142 for severing the embossed portion of the strip material from the roll 62. The cutter assembly consists ofa pair of cutter blades 144, 145, a cutter block 146 and a push button 148.

The cutter blades 144, are disposed above the passageway 80 and near the exit end 147 of the passageway 80 and are affixed to the top portion of the front cover 16. The cutting edges 150 of the blades 144, 145 are perpendicular to the path of the strip material and extend over the entire width of the strip material.

The cutter block 146 and the push button are pivotally connected to the housing 12 at 152 and are disposed beneath the cutter blades 144, 145. The cutter block has a first sloped section 154 which approaches cutter blade 144 upon actuation of the cutter assembly 142 and has a second sloped section 156 which approaches cutter blade 145 upon actuation of the cutter assembly 142. The angle of inclination of the sloped sections 154, 156 is selected to cause cutter blade 144 to completely sever the strip material while cutter blade 145 only cuts through the first layer of the strip material. This cutting arrangement leaves a tab on the strip material to enable a simple removal of any backing on the strip material.

The severing is accomplished by pushing the push button 148 against the biasing force of a spring element 158 until the strip material is severed. Upon releasing the button 148, the spring element 158 returns the push button 148 and cutter block 146 to their starting positions.

Although not shown in the drawings, an arm extending from the second handle 30 may be provided to engage the cutter assembly 142 after the cutter assembly is actuated and when the first and second handles are brought together to provide additional leverage for forcing the cutter block 146 against the cutter blades 144, 145. This additional leverage may be extremely useful forcutting certain types ofstrip material.

Another feature which may be incorporated into this tool is a viewing window cut into the top of the front cover and extending from the embossing station to the cutter assembly. This window will enable the operator of the tool to see which portion of the strip material is located at the embossing station and thereby enable the operator to position the strip material for receiving a successive embossment regardless of how far the strip material has been advanced or retracted. This purpose would also be accomplished by utilizing a first die member which is transparent.

FIG. 9 shows a magazine retaining spring element 73 used to hold magazines for the three-eighths inch or one-fourth inch wide strip material. This retaining element 73 eliminates the disadvantages discussed herein in connection with the spring element 70 shown in FIG. 7 and hence the magazine retaining spring element is preferred. The retaining element 73 is mounted on the body 12 and extends into the cavity 64 of the tool 10. A portion of the retaining element 73 engages the outside surface of the magazine 66 to positively hold the magazine 66 within the cavity, and the resiliency of the retaining element enables manual removal and insertion of the magazine from and into the cavity of the tool without difficulty.

FIG. 4 illustrates a means for retaining a roll of strip material 62 within the cavity 64 without the use of a magazine. The roll 62 is retained within the cavity 64 by a clip 74 held onto the body 12 by a button 76 on each side of the body 12. The clip 74 is given a width greater than the width of the strip material to prevent the roll 62 from'falling out of the cavity 64. Furthermore, the clip 74 is provided with a slot 78 to allow the strip material to be taken from the roll 62 and inserted into the tool 10.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it is apparent to anyone skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

lclaim:

1. A tool for embossing predetermined markings on deformable strip material, comprising:

a body, extending longitudinally rearwardly to form a first handle, said body defining an embossing station and a continuous passageway extending through said embossing station to provide a path for said strip material therethrough;

first and second complementary die members having male and female dies, respectively, for forming such markings, cooperatively disposed about the peripheries of the die members, said die members being rotatably mounted on said body to bring selected pairs of dies to the embossing station;

a second handle pivoted on said body and forming an anvil disposed to activate the pair of dies disposed at the embossing station when the first and second handles are brought together;

a strip feeder assembly supported by said body and having a friction roller in direct contract with said strip material and rotatable about an axis generally perpendicular to the path of said strip material to advance said strip material through the embossing station when the first and second handles move apart;

a strip guide element disposed within said passageway and manually movable to different positions therein along an axis generally perpendicular to the path of said strip material, said element having a plane surface and a wall member extending upwardly from said surface, said wall member extending generally arallel to the path of said strip material for guiding srrp materials of different widths, corresponding to the different positions of the strip guide element, through the embossing station and positioning such different strip materials accurately therein;

said strip guide element being movable to at least three different positions within said passageway and said die members being selected from a plurality of such die members which are interchangeably mounted on said body to correspond to different positions of said strip guide element; and

said second die members corresponding to the different positions of the strip guide element each having a tab extending upwardly therefrom and disposed in relation to the corresponding position of said strip guide element for guiding strip material between said tab and said wall member, through the embossing station, and for positioning the strip material therein when the strip guide element is disposed in at least two of said different positions. 

